Under the general supervision of the Dispatch Supervisor, this position receives, evaluates, and dispatches emergency and non-emergency calls for service to appropriate personnel, as well as operates a radio system, computer-aided dispatch system, records management system, video cameras, technology tools used to increase officer and community safety, and enhanced 911 system for police, medical, and fire calls for service. In addition, the position handles general customer service inquiries from the public and external agencies. Communications personnel also monitor prisoners who are detained in the city jail via audio and visual digital media equipment.
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EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Receives and answers inquiries from the public regarding risks to life and safety, violations of law, missing persons, and weather and road information;
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Transmits, receives, and relays official information using established agency communications equipment to agency officers and law enforcement agency officials;
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Gather information from callers, including the nature, severity, location, and status of emergencies;
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Receive requests for information and assistance and direct those requests to the proper source;
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Prioritize calls for service and dispatch those calls for service to available officers by radio;
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Maintain ongoing status and awareness of police personnel and police units;
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Provides intelligence information in support of local, state, and national security, to law enforcement officials and the public through criminal activity reports, criminal and traffic warrants, driver’s license and vehicle registration information, Amber alerts, criminal records, public assistance, and information on the status of persons apprehended;
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Maintains close contact with field units by communicating with agency employees; other law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, emergency service providers, and the general public to obtain and disseminate information in a timely, accurate manner;
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Prepares and updates reports, memoranda, logs, and correspondence that accurately document law enforcement communications, using appropriate agency policies and procedures;
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Monitors technology tools used by law enforcement agencies such as mobile apps, license plate readers, push-to-zoom surveillance cameras, security cameras, and other items that support officer and community safety;
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Makes appropriate notifications to executive command staff on designated calls for service;
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Required to work irregular hours and long shifts as necessary;
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May interact with individuals with mental and emotional illnesses;
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May be exposed to traumatic situations and graphic material;
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Enter, update, maintain, and research information through local, state, and federal database systems (TCIC/NCIC) and provide information to the requesting officer;
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Monitor several Police, Fire, and City radios as required;
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Prepare and complete a variety of reports and forms regarding calls received and responses taken, arrests, warrants, prisoners, and criminal offenses;
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Accurately and promptly complete routine reports and forms related to arrests, warrants, prisoners, and criminal offenses for submittal;
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Provide general customer service to citizens who enter the station, call the department, or need other forms of assistance;
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Monitor, via camera system, prisoners detained in the jail;
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Have occasional contact with prisoners by preparing meals and performing laundry tasks;
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Work in a fast-paced environment, providing dispatching services to the cities of White Settlement, Westworth Village, Sansom Park, and Lakeside.
OTHER DUTIES
Please note that this job description is not intended to cover or provide a comprehensive list of duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may need to change to help drive our vision and fulfill our mission.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
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Must type at least 30 words per minute, correctly. A typing test is required;
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Highly effective verbal and written communication skills;
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Ability to make appropriate decisions under stress;
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Knowledge of emergency communications systems, including radio, telephone, electronic, and mobile in-car communications;
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Knowledge of state and federal Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) as well as the rules and regulations governing the appropriate use and protection of CJIS information;
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Ability to calmly communicate and obtain information from people experiencing a mental or emotional crisis and to provide guidance to others;
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Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with employees at all levels;
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Ability to maintain a positive attitude while completing shift duties and organizational goals.
REQUIRED EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
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A telecommunicator must be a U.S. citizen and have attained the age of at least 18;
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Possesses a valid Texas Driver’s license;
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High School Diploma or GED;
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Must pass all pre-employment processes, including but not limited to Drug screening, Physical Examination, psychological, polygraph, and applicable Background Checks;
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Be able to meet minimum standards for licensure as outlined in the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE);
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Must obtain Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS) Certification within one (1) year from employment date and maintain access to TLETS.
DESIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE
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Previous Law Enforcement, Fire, or EMS communications experience preferred;
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Bilingual
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
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Work is performed in an office environment; the ability to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery is required. Repetitive finger movement, repetitive twisting, or pressure involving wrists or hands is required;
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Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.
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The position requires personnel to work various shifts/hours, including overtime and holidays (24 hours a day / 7 days a week) with regular and timely attendance;
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Visually see, with or without reasonable accommodation, a wide variety of written and electronic materials at arm’s length or less and see in detail objects or printed material at greater than arm’s length, including video monitors for long periods of time;
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Hear sounds within the normal range of hearing (phone conversations, co-workers, supervisors, radio, etc.) and in the presence of noise;
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Work with frequent interruptions;
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Effectively communicate verbally clearly and concisely, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to listen to voice instructions and communicate effectively in person, over the telephone, or by radio;
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Comprehend and make inferences from material in English, both orally and in writing;
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Perform assigned tasks under pressure in emergencies and stressful situations with the ability to maintain emotional control;
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Obtain information from hostile or emotional citizens;
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Operate/troubleshoot telephone systems, telephone recording systems, radio consoles, camera monitoring systems, computers, and related communications equipment;
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Type, operate computer equipment, write legibly, and handle a variety of records and files with sufficient manual dexterity, with or without reasonable accommodation;
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Make independent, sound judgments in routine and emergencies;
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Display discretion and integrity in the performance of duties, maintaining the credibility and ability to testify in a court of law;
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Demonstrate patience and flexibility in changing job demands and when interacting with employees, visitors, and the public;
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May be required to work immediately before, during, or after an emergency or disaster;
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Represent the City in a positive manner, at all times, while engaged with City staff and Citizenry.
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May be required to be on-call twenty-four (24) hours a day;
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Ability to sit in an enclosed area to conduct shift work;
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Constant data entry on the computer during the assigned shift.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City of White Settlement offers equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals and strictly prohibits the discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. The City of White Settlement shall provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees who are otherwise qualified to perform the essential job duties when doing so does not create an undue hardship for the city. The City of White Settlement provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. The City of White Settlement is mandated by federal law to provide a drug-free working environment for the safety of its employees and the public. All employment is contingent upon passing a post-offer employment drug screen and physical, if applicable.
